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Stewart sidelined by left quad strain

5/28/12: Ian Stewart goes yard with a two-run home run to deep center field, giving the Cubs a 6-4 lead in the fourth

By Carrie Muskat

MESA, Ariz. -- Ian Stewart has a mild-to-moderate left quad strain, and he could be sidelined 10-14 days, but the Cubs third baseman said the setback shouldn't keep him from making the 25-man roster.

An MRI on Friday revealed the extent of the injury.

"I got the MRI and that's just kind of a vague timetable right now, just to see how things progress," Stewart said Saturday of the 10-14 day period. "I feel like it's progressing pretty good today. I woke up today and didn't feel as much stiffness as I had."

Stewart injured his leg while rounding first base after hitting a double in his first at-bat Thursday in an intrasquad game.

"Hopefully, it's not that long [that he's sidelined] and it's a precautionary length," he said.

Cubs manager Dale Svem has said Luis Valbuena could be the option at third if Stewart isn't healthy. Does this hurt Stewart's chances?

"I would hope not," Stewart said. "I feel like I was brought back to be a part of the team and to help this team, and I feel like I can do that. This is unfortunate, but I think if this was toward the end of camp or the middle, it may be a different story.

"It is disappointing because I put all that work in in the offseason and my wrist is good and had that first good at-bat of camp, even though it was the first intrasquad," he said. "My confidence is so high on my ability that this is a little road block that hopefully doesn't last the amount of time they said and I can get out there sooner."

Stewart signed a $2 million non-guaranteed contract, but he said he's not thinking about the terms.

"If I didn't think I could come back here and be a part of the team, there's no sense in me coming back," Stewart said. "I have all the confidence in the world. I came back to be a part of the Major League team. I'm not even thinking about that right now."